Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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573. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost in 2019 if the budget for the school meals programme was increased by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22303/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a total cost of €54 million in 2018 representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.

Based on the 2018 allocation of €54 million, the estimated full year cost of increasing expenditure on the school meals programme by 10% is €5.4 million. Any such changes would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.